Canopy for bicycles



. (No Model.)

G. C. MATHEWS.

CANOPY FOR BIGYOLES. No. 546,104. Patented Sept. 10, 1895.

ANDREW ABRAHAM.FHOTO-UNQ.WASHINGTUN.O.Q

FFICEQ GEORGE CHRISTOPHER MATHEWS, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

CANOPY FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,104, dated September 10, 1895. Application filed September 27, 1894:. Serial No. 524,286. (1T0 model.)

To all whom it may concerns Be it known that I, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER MATHEWS,- a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida,have invented a new and useful Canopy for Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in canopies for bicycles.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive bicycle-cam opy which will be adapted to be readily applied to the ordinary construction of bicycles for protecting the rider from the rays of the sun and to shelter him from rain, and which may be compactly folded when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a canopy which when disposed horizontally will olfer no obstruction to wind to avoid impeding the progress of the rider, and which, when desired, may be arranged at an angle, to operate as a sail for accelerating the speed of the bicycle to assist the rider.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle-canopy constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a bicycle, the covering being removed. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the canopy, showing the parts folded. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of the bicycle-canopy, the same being open. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the compound clamps. Fig. 5 is a detail viewof one of the side bars. Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the sections of the folding cross-bar. Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating a modification of the invention. Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the links.

Like numerals of reference indicate'like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a canopy top or covering constructed of suitable fabric or similar flexible material and supported when open by a pair of side bars 2, having the side edges of the top or covering secured to them and centrally connected by a cross-bar 3, composed of two sections. Theinner'ends of the sections of the folding cross-bar 3 are connected by a rule-joint 4, which forms a shoulder for maintaining them in alignment in the usual manner, and their outer ends 5 are laterally offset to form shoulders and are pivoted at 6 in recesses 7 of the side bars, whereby when the folding cross-bar is straight the shoulders formed'by the laterally-offset ends will eugage the adjacent shoulders forrned by the recesses to hold the canopy-top rigid.

The side bars are provided with depending centrally-arranged segmental enlargements or cars 8, to the inner faces of which are centrally pivoted links 9, and the latter are provided with depending tongues 10, which are pivoted in bifurcations ll of diverging supporting -bars 12, adapted to fold together. The lower ends of the upwardly-diverging supporting-bars 12 are reduced and are pivoted in a bifurcation 13 of a vertical rod or stem 14, which is detachably secured by compound clamps 15 and 15 to the frame of a bicycle. The upper end of the rod or stem 14 is enlarged and is provided with a band 16, encircling the bifurcated portion and limiting the outward swing of the supporting-bars 12, and the latter are provided at the inner faces of their upper ends Withstops 17 for limiting the swing of the tongues of the links 9, and these stops hold the parts of the canopy rigid when extended and relieve the pivots of the ears 8 of strain.

The canopy may be arranged horizontally, which'is preferable in riding against the wind, in order to avoid offering an obstruction, and it is secured at any desired adjustment by means of set-screws 18, mounted on the links and adapted to engage perforations 19 of the ears, the perforations being arranged in a curved line in the path of the set-screws. By this construction the canopy may be arranged at a slight inclination to operate similar to a sail for assisting the rider and accelerating the speed of the bicycle.

The rod or stem is secured to the upper horizontal rod of a diamond frame by means of a compound clamp 15, composed of a clip 20, and a clamp 21, pivoted to the clip. The clip 20 consists of a single piece of metal having a cylindrical portion open at one side and provided with extended terminals 22, which are connected by a clamping-bolt having a thumbnut. The clip encircles the rod or stem and is firmly secured to it by means of the said clamping-bolt. The clamp 21 is composed of two separate sections having oppositelybowed portions and straight terminals perforated and connected by clamping-bolts 24, whereby the clamp is adjustable and may be readily attached to the upper bar of the frame of the bicyclel The lower compound clamp 15 consists of a clamp 25, composed of two sections similar to that just described, and pivoted to one of the sections is a socket 26, having an open top and closed bottom for receiving thelower end of the rod or stem, which is stepped in the socket.

In applying the canopy to a ladys bicycle the clamps are attached to the steering-bar.

In Fig.7 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated a modification of the invention in which the canopy is connected with the rod or stem lat by 'a pair of horizontallydisposed bars 27 and vertical bars 28, arranged at the outer ends of the horizontal bars 27 and having their upper ends adjustably pivoted to the ears of the side bars.

It will be seen that the canopy is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that it is adapted to be readily applied to a bicycle, and that it is capable of protecting the rider from the rays of the sun and of sheltering him from rain. It will also be apparent that it offers no obstruction in riding against the wind, but may be arranged to assist the rider when the bicycle is traveling in the direction of the wind.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

That I claim is l. Abicycle canopy comprising a covering, parallel side bars having the covering secured to them, a centrally arranged folding cross-bar composed of sections hinged together and pivotally connected at theirouter ends to the side bars, a stem designed to be secured to a bicycle, and folding supportingbars extending from the stem and connected with the side-bars, substantially as described.

2. A bicycle canopy comprisinga covering, side bars having the covering secured to them, a cross-bar connecting the side-bars and composed of folding sections, a stem designed to be secured to a bicycle, and the upwardlydiverging folding supporting bars having their lower ends pivoted to the stem and having their upper ends adjustably connected to the side bars, substantially as described.

3. A bicycle canopy comprising a covering, side bars secured to the same, a folding crossbar, a stem designed to be secured to abicycle, links adjustably pivoted to the side bars, and the supporting-bars pivotally connected to the links and to the upper end of the stem, substantially as described.

4. A bicycle canopy comprising a covering, side bars secured to the same and provided intermediate of their ends with recesses, a folding cross bar composed of sections hingedly connected at their inner ends and having their outer terminals laterally offset to form shoulders and pivoted in said recesses, links pivoted to the side bars and adjustably secured to the same and provided with tongues, a stem having a bifurcated upper end, and diverging supporting-bars having their lower ends pivoted in the bifurcation of the stem, and provided at their upper ends with bifurcations and having said tongues pivoted therein, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE CHRISTOPHER MATHEWS.

Witnesses:

FRANK CASSIDEY, B. B. MACDOMM. 

